Ramp up that excitement for ‘26

[Goldfan]

“The Cardinals also expect the entirety of last year's coaching staff to return under Oli Marmol, though game-planning coach Packy Elkins & asst pitching coach Dean Kiekhefer will transition to strategist roles. St. Louis will hire a new asst pitching coach & asst hitting coach.”
K. Woo

I mean the changes being made to invigorate the fan base is almost like when BDW brought in LaRussa and Dunc

[Talkin' Baseball]

I don't know if excited is the right word for me to use about the '26 Cards, but I am more interested in them than I have been for some time. Some things will be done differently and that badly needed to happen. We'll see if that makes them more exciting, or not. As for your news- that's something!

[CorneliusWolfe]

“The Cardinals also expect the entirety of last year's coaching staff to return under Oli Marmol, though game-planning coach Packy Elkins & asst pitching coach Dean Kiekhefer will transition to strategist roles. St. Louis will hire a new asst pitching coach & asst hitting coach.”
K. Woo

I mean the changes being made to invigorate the fan base is almost like when BDW brought in LaRussa and Dunc

Many give Marmol a pass due to lack of personnel. I can understand that, but he’s also had a chance to develop several young players and they’ve mostly regressed. It’s definitely not entirely his fault, but if the team is not committed to providing him better personnel then the only option that changes anything is attempt an real upgrade to the coaching staff, and I don’t mean voiceless assistants to the assistants. Otherwise, they are doing NOTHING…which is worse.

[JuanAgosto]

I don't know if excited is the right word for me to use about the '26 Cards, but I am more interested in them than I have been for some time. Some things will be done differently and that badly needed to happen. We'll see if that makes them more exciting, or not. As for your news- that's something!

Will anything be different? The only change I see is the anticipated moves to trade Arenado and possibly Gray and Contreras. It looks like nothing more than lowering payroll while raising ticket prices.

The news of oli and staff returning tells me philosophies and play will be the same. Oli Ball will continue into 2026. That's where the changes needed to be made.

[Banner29]

At first glance this is reasonably infuriating.

But the more I think into it the more I wonder if it just means Oli is on borrowed time in Blooms eyes and is just waiting for the greenlight to take him out back like old yeller. Maybe in his eyes there’s no sense in hiring anyone new when they will just be canned anyway once Bloom brings in his own manager that will want his own coaches. And unless the guy he wants is a scab it’s a tough sell to tell a manager with credibility and options that when they hire him that these specific coaches have to stay because we still want them. Leaving that managerial candidate with limited input on his staff.

So maybe he’s just treating this collection of coaches as a “make a wish” staff until the inevitable.

Either way it will still not be enjoyable seeing the lingering effects of the Mo era

[2ninr]

At first glance this is reasonably infuriating.

But the more I think into it the more I wonder if it just means Oli is on borrowed time in Blooms eyes and is just waiting for the greenlight to take him out back like old yeller. Maybe in his eyes there’s no sense in hiring anyone new when they will just be canned anyway once Bloom brings in his own manager that will want his own coaches. And unless the guy he wants is a scab it’s a tough sell to tell a manager with credibility and options that when they hire him that these specific coaches have to stay because we still want them. Leaving that managerial candidate with limited input on his staff.

So maybe he’s just treating this collection of coaches as a “make a wish” staff until the inevitable.

Either way it will still not be enjoyable seeing the lingering effects of the Mo era

Not sure if this is wishful thinking or just another CT theory. Either way, love the old yeller reference.

[Voldemort]

Maybe the Cardinals will finally call me to assist with hitting. I can't do worse, and I do understand mechanics and hitting approach. Until then, I don't think I'll get too excited for '26.

[blackinkbiz]

“The Cardinals also expect the entirety of last year's coaching staff to return under Oli Marmol, though game-planning coach Packy Elkins & asst pitching coach Dean Kiekhefer will transition to strategist roles. St. Louis will hire a new asst pitching coach & asst hitting coach.”
K. Woo

I mean the changes being made to invigorate the fan base is almost like when BDW brought in LaRussa and Dunc

Many give Marmol a pass due to lack of personnel. I can understand that, but he’s also had a chance to develop several young players and they’ve mostly regressed. It’s definitely not entirely his fault, but if the team is not committed to providing him better personnel then the only option that changes anything is attempt an real upgrade to the coaching staff, and I don’t mean voiceless assistants to the assistants. Otherwise, they are doing NOTHING…which is worse.

He had more than enough "personnel" in 2022 when he decided to pull a nearly unhittable Quintana after 5.1IP and 75 pitches and then thought it'd be a good idea to try and extract 2 innings from an injured, 1-inning closer. How many starters have gone 7IP or MORE this postseason? A lot!

Had he learned anything from that nightmare, maybe people would be more receptive to him, but nope, Oli's script rules his decision making. The only personnel problem Oli has is that he's Oli and he's an idiot.

[scoutyjones2]

“The Cardinals also expect the entirety of last year's coaching staff to return under Oli Marmol, though game-planning coach Packy Elkins & asst pitching coach Dean Kiekhefer will transition to strategist roles. St. Louis will hire a new asst pitching coach & asst hitting coach.”
K. Woo

I mean the changes being made to invigorate the fan base is almost like when BDW brought in LaRussa and Dunc

Many give Marmol a pass due to lack of personnel. I can understand that, but he’s also had a chance to develop several young players and they’ve mostly regressed. It’s definitely not entirely his fault, but if the team is not committed to providing him better personnel then the only option that changes anything is attempt an real upgrade to the coaching staff, and I don’t mean voiceless assistants to the assistants. Otherwise, they are doing NOTHING…which is worse.

Managers at the MLB level manage the team. They don't coach personnel on a daily or individual basis. That's what coaches are for. And MLB is not the place to be brought up to develop.

You must have higher expectations than I, on this supposed "talent.". Regression is also on the player to adjust to the league once the league adjusts to the newbies.

Been plenty of statements about this on Just Worthless not doing the work

[Talkin' Baseball]

I don't know if excited is the right word for me to use about the '26 Cards, but I am more interested in them than I have been for some time. Some things will be done differently and that badly needed to happen. We'll see if that makes them more exciting, or not. As for your news- that's something!

Will anything be different? The only change I see is the anticipated moves to trade Arenado and possibly Gray and Contreras. It looks like nothing more than lowering payroll while raising ticket prices.

The news of oli and staff returning tells me philosophies and play will be the same. Oli Ball will continue into 2026. That's where the changes needed to be made.

Too soon to say. The possiblility is stronger than it has been in some time. But, it seems like Nootbaar will still be here, they seem committed to sticking with Walker for now, they've said they will look at Herrera again as a catcher, Scott will be in center field. That really narrows the window for immediate change to Wetherholt, whatever return we might get from trades, and maybe a reduction in roster redundancies. Those are useful things and a good start, but there is a lot of work to be done. I, for one, am up for a lot of change. The more change there is, the more excited I will be about this team. Some change is guaranteed- will it be enough?

[CorneliusWolfe]

“The Cardinals also expect the entirety of last year's coaching staff to return under Oli Marmol, though game-planning coach Packy Elkins & asst pitching coach Dean Kiekhefer will transition to strategist roles. St. Louis will hire a new asst pitching coach & asst hitting coach.”
K. Woo

I mean the changes being made to invigorate the fan base is almost like when BDW brought in LaRussa and Dunc

Many give Marmol a pass due to lack of personnel. I can understand that, but he’s also had a chance to develop several young players and they’ve mostly regressed. It’s definitely not entirely his fault, but if the team is not committed to providing him better personnel then the only option that changes anything is attempt an real upgrade to the coaching staff, and I don’t mean voiceless assistants to the assistants. Otherwise, they are doing NOTHING…which is worse.

He had more than enough "personnel" in 2022 when he decided to pull a nearly unhittable Quintana after 5.1IP and 75 pitches and then thought it'd be a good idea to try and extract 2 innings from an injured, 1-inning closer. How many starters have gone 7IP or MORE this postseason? A lot!

Had he learned anything from that nightmare, maybe people would be more receptive to him, but nope, Oli's script rules his decision making. The only personnel problem Oli has is that he's Oli and he's an idiot.

I’m not an Oli fan either and hard to see how anyone could be. I would’ve liked to see them add to that 2022 team, but I guess even that wouldn’t have stopped him from the bad playoff moves.

I can’t say he’s truly terrible but not very effective either. His iPad seems to rule his reasoning and it’s like having Siri as the manager.

[ilcubuffs]

So to get into a position to: bring fans back to STL baseball, compete on the field for Central title, etc etc etc they are bringing back the keystone cops of manager and coaches!!

"doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results" never gets old with this ownership. At least they have not resurrected the HOPE philosophy.

[CorneliusWolfe]

“The Cardinals also expect the entirety of last year's coaching staff to return under Oli Marmol, though game-planning coach Packy Elkins & asst pitching coach Dean Kiekhefer will transition to strategist roles. St. Louis will hire a new asst pitching coach & asst hitting coach.”
K. Woo

I mean the changes being made to invigorate the fan base is almost like when BDW brought in LaRussa and Dunc

Many give Marmol a pass due to lack of personnel. I can understand that, but he’s also had a chance to develop several young players and they’ve mostly regressed. It’s definitely not entirely his fault, but if the team is not committed to providing him better personnel then the only option that changes anything is attempt an real upgrade to the coaching staff, and I don’t mean voiceless assistants to the assistants. Otherwise, they are doing NOTHING…which is worse.

Managers at the MLB level manage the team. They don't coach personnel on a daily or individual basis. That's what coaches are for. And MLB is not the place to be brought up to develop.

You must have higher expectations than I, on this supposed "talent.". Regression is also on the player to adjust to the league once the league adjusts to the newbies.

Been plenty of statements about this on Just Worthless not doing the work

I very much agree that MLB should not be a developmental league but our team has still treated it that way by bringing up guys who were obviously not ready and must’ve expected the coaching staff (led and directed by Oli) would help them improve. The players come up with no professional approach at the plate and no grasp on basic fundamentals, and they still regress.

Maybe I’m wrong in assuming the front office expected the coaches to help them improve, but if I’m wrong, what the hell WAS the plan? Anyone could see these guys weren’t ready. JW (Just Worthless lol) actually looked pretty good as a rookie then regressed really badly. I’ll concede it’s not all on Oli, just a directionless ship for years.

[earp]

It looks like nothing more than lowering payroll while raising ticket prices. And beer prices!
Get those Season Tickets!

[icon]

Attendance should go through the roof, but there is no roof, so the sky is the limit!

And nothing bespeaks excitement more than the blank face of the moron manager staring out at the field from the top step of the dugout. Bloom should at least require him to sit in the shadows of the dugout.

[82birds]

At first glance this is reasonably infuriating.

But the more I think into it the more I wonder if it just means Oli is on borrowed time in Blooms eyes and is just waiting for the greenlight to take him out back like old yeller. Maybe in his eyes there’s no sense in hiring anyone new when they will just be canned anyway once Bloom brings in his own manager that will want his own coaches. And unless the guy he wants is a scab it’s a tough sell to tell a manager with credibility and options that when they hire him that these specific coaches have to stay because we still want them. Leaving that managerial candidate with limited input on his staff.

So maybe he’s just treating this collection of coaches as a “make a wish” staff until the inevitable.

Either way it will still not be enjoyable seeing the lingering effects of the Mo era

+1000